Rafael Cavalcante Details LFA’s Plans for Brazil in 2024

Legacy Fighting Alliance is renowned as a pipeline for talent to the UFC, making it a prime destination for many burgeoning fighters.

Rafael Cavalcante, the South American president of the organization, recently revealed LFA’s plans for 2024 in an interview with Sherdog.com.

“In 2023 we did 26 events, 20 in the USA and six in Brazil [while] putting a monthly average of 3.4 fighters in UFC,” Cavalcante said. “This year our goal is to keep around the same number of events in Brazil and USA.”

The first event on the promotion’s calendar in Brazil is set for Saturday with LFA 175 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo. The card is headlined by a light heavyweight championship clash between reigning champion Bruno Lopes and Marcos Brigagao.

“Both are very aggressive and look for the knockout all the time. I have no doubt this fight will not reach the fifth round,” Cavalcante said.

According to Cavalcante, LFA is planning to hold the same number of events in Brazil in 2024 as last year.

“The difference is that we are doing more editions in Rio de Janeiro and at least five trials with R1 Fighting Series. This event was very important in order to find new talents for LFA,” Cavalcante said. “Andre Lima is a good example of that. We found him in R1, he went to LFA and now, after getting a win on [the Contender Series], he signed with the UFC.”

During his fighting career, Calvacante served as a primary sparring partner for Anderson Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and he was also the only man to knock out Yoel Romero. Still, the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion points to his promoter work alongside Ed Soares as the more difficult experience.

“No doubt it is much easier to fight than produce an event,” Cavalcante said. “Since my job with Eddie is not only to produce the event, but prepare fighters globally and make them understand that they are products. When we see them performing in the Octagon, it is priceless. Giving opportunities and impacting people's lives is a such a wonderful sensation that gives me the strength to wake up and work harder everyday.”